Self locking hinge

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an ingenuously designed self locking hinge that is simple to manufacture and can come in a variety of shapes given the application requirements. It has few parts making it cost effect and simple to use. The hinge can easily be opened and closed with one hand while at the same time creating a strong hinge connection. The invention can be used in a number of applications, including use with poles for many common applications such as walking sticks, canes, ski poles and wading staffs used by fly fishermen who need poles to navigate through a stream to avoid holes or rocks in the stream bed. The invention can also be used in conjunction with devices that require a collapsible frame.

BACKGROUND

a) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of folding hinges designed for usein conjunction with devices that use poles or similar means and where itis desirable to collapse the same. More specifically, this devicerelates to devices that are used in conjunction with ski poles, canes,walking sticks, or wading staffs used by fishermen. This inventionconsists of a self-locking hinge that can be operated with one handmaking use of the poles and related devices convenient.

b) Description of the Related Art

The present invention is directed towards folding or collapsible hingesthat are designed for use in conjunction with poles or similar devices.Presently, there are different folding hinge designs that can be used inconjunction with poles or other devices to create collapsible frames.However, none of the prior art incorporates all of the novel aspects ofthe present invention of a simple, inexpensive, easy to manufacture,strong self locking hinge that most importantly can be operated with onehand.

A common collapsible hinge assembly in the prior art uses spring loadedpoles that facilitate both the opening of the hinge assembly and themaintaining of the hinge assembly in a closed position. Some devices donot use an actual hinge at the connection point but rely on the springloaded, or bungee cord loaded, poles and a sleeve type arrangement whereone pole possess a sleeve designed to slide over a second pole. Thisarrangement is common with poles used for wading staffs, to support popup camping tents and other similar devices. The main draw back is thattwo hands are required to assemble the two sections of the pole due tothe combination of the internal spring mechanism and the overlappingsleeve arrangement. Other devices have an internal spring loaded means,such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,490, but have many internal parts that makeis complicated and costly to manufacture. The present invention has onlythree basic parts and can be simply manufactured and placed inside apole without any internal components.

Some devices use sleeves to facilitate the locking means such as in U.S.Pat. No. 5,139,283. This device is similar to the present invention, asit is used in conjunction with ski poles. The draw back with this deviceis that one needs to use two hands to operate the device, as one wouldhave to hold the poles in place while they slide the sleeve over thehinge portion. Other devices do not use springs or sleeves, such as U.S.Pat. No. 3,833,964, but use the pole material to create the springaction. This device falls from the shortcoming of not yielding a trueend-to-end 180-degree connection desirable for walking sticks and canes.Furthermore, this hinge device could be disengaged if one where to applyforce to underside of the hinge, a concept not desirable to wadingstaffs, walking sticks and canes.

Still other devices utilize a latch mechanism as the present invention.One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 96,777, a device specifically designedfor use with an umbrella. This device does not create a straight180-degree orientation and does not easily collapse down for easystorage. Further, it does not have an offset hinge connection as thepresent invention preventing the device from being collapsed to acompact sized for easy transport and storage.

Some devices possess an offset hinge pivot connection. An example can beseen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,660 and its cited prior art referencescontained within the patent. All of these references suffer from thecommon problems of not being able to be engaged or disengaged with onehand. The cited reference itself does have a push button to release themechanism but in doing so one's own finger will be holding the pressplate of the opposite hinge portion preventing the same from disengagingfrom the main hinge portion, thereby preventing the device from being aone hand operation.

In sum, the present invention overcomes all the shortcomings of theprior art and discloses a simple self locking hinge. The design issimple to manufacture, can come in a variety of shapes given theapplication requirements and has few parts making it cost effect. Thehinge can be simply opened and closed with one hand while creating astrong axial connection between two poles that is sufficient to be usedas a wading staff, walking stick, cane or other device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of an ingenuously designed self locking hingethat can be used in a number of applications. The hinge can be used inconjunction with poles for many common applications such as walkingsticks, ski poles and poles used by fly fishermen who need wading staffsto navigate through a stream to avoid holes or rocks in the stream bedthat are not readily apparent to the naked eye. The invention can alsobe used in conjunction with devices that require a collapsible framesuch as baby carriages or golf bag carts to name a few.

One key advantage of the invention is that it can be opened and closedwith one hand and with one fluid motion. In the case of a wading staff aperson simply holds the upper half of the wading staff containing thehandle and releases the bottom half of the wading staff. The selflocking hinge automatically engages once the bottom half of the wadingstaff is in place, that is, lined up end to end with the top half of thewading staff (See FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). This single hand operation isdesirable and convenient in many applications, and more specifically,with a fly fisherman who is generally holding a fishing rod in one handand thus only has one hand free to manage a wading staff.

Another advantage of the invention is that it allows for a wading staff,or other pole device, to be broken down to a compact size for easytransportation and storage. This is desirable in almost allapplications, especially wading staffs and canes. If needed severalhinges may be placed in the pole thereby allowing the pole to be foldeda number of times, further reducing the size of the pole for transportand storage.

The invention consists of essentially three pieces; two hinge portionsthat are pivotally joined and a self locking latch that locks the twohinge portions together. The two hinge portions are designed to bedisposed end to end and are pivotally engaged with each other around apivot pin. The hinge portions are geometrically designed so that they donot protrude beyond the pole diameter. The only exceptions are the lobeportions of the hinge that create an offset pivot point. The offsetpivot point allows the poles attached to the hinge to touch and to beparallel when the entire pole is in its closed position. The thirdportion of the invention is the self locking latch which is springactuated. The self locking latch is permanently attached to one hingeportion. The self locking latch locks the invention by engaging a recessor notch in the opposing hinge portion. When engaged the hinge creates astrong connection that is sufficient for its application purpose. Theinvention is simply unlocked by pressing down on the self locking latch.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a self lockinghinge that can be easily engaged and disengaged with one hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self locking hinge thatis simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

A third object of this invention is to provide a self locking hinge thatcan be incorporated with poles, or other devices, so that one maypossess a poled, or other, device that is strong in nature while beingcapable of being broken down to a compact size for easy transport andstorage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cut away plan view of the invention in its engaged positionand showing the self locking latch engaged,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention,

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the invention in its closed position andused in conjunction with poles for a wading staff,

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the invention in its engaged position andused in conjunction with poles for a wading staff,

FIG. 6 is cross sectional view of the connection between the selflocking latch and the first hinge portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures and more specifically FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, theinvention 10 consists of essentially three parts, a first hinge portion12, a second hinge portion 14 and a self locking latch 16. Each hingeportion has a main body portion and a connecting portion containinglobes designed to connect the two hinge portions. The first hingeportion 12 has a main body portion 18 and a connecting portion 20 withtwo lobes 26 and 54. The second hinge portion 14 has a main body portion22 and a connecting portion 24 with a single lobe 28. The main bodyportions of the hinge portions are design to allow the hinge portions tobe engaged with poles or other devices. In FIG. 1, the main body portion18 of first hinge portion 12 is disposed in pole 30 while the main bodyportion 22 of second hinge portion 14 is disposed in pole 32. Theinvention 10 can be made in a variety of geometric shapes so that it canbe connected with variety of different shaped poles or devices requiringthe invention 10. The preferred embodiment of the invention 10 is tohave the main body portions of the hinges cylindrical in shape so thatthey may be accepted into a hollow cylindrical pole device.

The lobes 28, 26 and 54 extend from the bottom of their respectiveconnecting portions and are designed to engage each other. The singlelobe 28 is designed to be disposed between the two lobes 26 and 54. Eachlobe has a hole and when the invention 10 is assembled all three holesof the lobes are axially aligned with each other. A single pin 56 isdisposed within the three holes of the lobes thereby providing a meansto connect the lobes and thus connect the hinge portions. The pin andlobe connection provides a means to allow the hinge portions to bepivotally joined and allow for the hinge portions to engage anddisengage. The lobes protrude from the base of their respectiveconnecting portions and therefore are offset from the main center axisof the hinge portions. In the preferred embodiment the lobes are offseta sufficient distance so as to allow the hinge portions to pivot in afull 180-degree orientation from being parallel to each other to beingaxially aligned end to end. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrates the fullmovement of the invention 10 from its disengaged, or closed, position toits engaged, or open, position, with only the handle 48 of the wadingstaff 52 preventing the hinge portions from being in perfect parallelorientation. The handle 48 may alternatively be designed to allow forperfect parallel alignment of the poles.

The self locking latch 16 is the part of the invention 10 that locks thetwo hinge portions together end to end so that a strong connection ismade. At the bottom of one end of the self locking latch 16 is aconnecting lobe 34 designed to engage a recess 36 in the main portion 22of the second hinge portion 14. The preferred embodiment is to have theconnecting lobe 34 in a 90-degree orientation with the main portion ofthe self locking latch 16. At the opposite end of the self locking latch16 is a press tab 38 that is disposed on the top of the self lockinglatch 16. A recess 40 is disposed on the bottom of the self lockinglatch 16 and directly opposite the press tab 38. The recess 40 isdesigned to accept a spring 42 which itself is disposed within the mainbody portion 18 of the first hinge portion 12 (see FIG. 2). The spring42 is disposed between the main body portion 18 and the recess 40 andprovides a means for keeping the self locking latch 16 engaged in therecess 36, and thus the invention 10 engaged. The spring 42 alsoprovides a means to release the self locking latch 16 from the recess36.

On each side of the self locking latch 16 are two pivot lobes 44 and 64designed to engage a single lobe 66 protruding up from the top part ofthe connecting portion 20 (See FIG. 6). A hole is disposed in all threelobes in such a manner that when the three holes are axially aligned theself locking latch 16 is in place in relation to the first hinge portion12. A pin 46 is placed in holes of the lobes 44, 64 and 66 so that theself locking latch 16 can be connected to the first hinge portion 12 andwhich provides a means for the self locking latch 16 to move pivotallyon top of the first hinge portion 12. This connection in conjunctionwith the spring 42 allows the self locking latch 16 to be engaged and bedisengaged from recess 36.

The invention 10 can be easily assembled, by placing the main portionsof the hinges into the devices to be connected. In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 theinvention is used in conjunction with a collapsible wading staff 52. Theinvention 10 is disposed within the two poles 30 and 32 of the wadingstaff 52. A handle 48 is at the top of the wading staff 52 and providesa means to lock the two poles together when folded. A rubber shoe 50 isat the base of the wading staff 52. A metal pivot 62, preferably steel,can be inserted into the rubber shoe 50 to prevent excessive wear on theshoe. FIG. 4 displays the invention 10 in its closed position for easystorage and/or transportation. FIG. 5 displays the invention 10 in itsopen or engaged position.

In the example of the wading staff 52, engaging and disengaging theinvention 10 is easy and can be accomplished with one hand. To engagethe invention 10 and thus open up the wading staff 52, one need onlyhold on to pole 30, preferably near the handle 48, separate the pole 32from the pole 30 with one's fingers and then let gravity or other forceallow the pole 32 to drop down to its closed position. In its closedposition the two poles will be axially aligned with each other in anend-to-end orientation. To disengage the invention 10 one need only topush down on the press tab 38 thereby depressing the spring 42 causingthe self locking latch 16 to pivot on pin 46 resulting in the connectinglobe 34 exiting the recess 36 sufficiently so that the invention 10 isdisengaged. The two poles 30 and 32 can be folded back to the closedposition. To accomplish this with one hand one need only raise thewading staff 52 off the ground a sufficient distance such that gravitywill allow the pole 32 to release from its axial orientation with pole30 and return to it closed position, parallel or nearly parallel, topole 32.

In the preferred embodiment the spring 42 is designed to be sufficientlydepressed to allow the connecting lobe 34 to exit the recess 36 asufficient distance so that the connecting portion 24 does not hinderthe connecting lobe's 34 ability to release from the second hingeportion 14. For ease of operation, the bottom surface of the connectinglobe 34 is rounded. Also, the leading edge of the connecting portion 24is rounded off a sufficient amount so as to aid in allowing theconnecting lobe 34 to “roll” over the connecting portion 24 to therecess 36. Although this arrangement is not necessary as in thepreferred embodiment the spring 42 can be pressed sufficiently enough toallow the connecting lobe 34 to pass over the connecting portion 24without interference, the invention 10 is designed in this manner justin case a user for some reason does not fully depress the spring 42sufficiently and thus needs the rounded surfaces of the connecting lobe34 and connecting portion 24 to aid in the engagement of the invention10. Once the connecting lobe 34 is disposed in recess 36 and the hingeportions are axially aligned end-to-end and the invention 10 is engaged.The spring 42 maintains a constant vertical pressure on the self-lockinglatch 16 and therefore keeps the connecting lobe 34 in the recess 36.All the tolerances on all the parts of the invention 10 are sufficientlytight and a secure connection is made locking the hinge portions inplace. The invention 10 is designed so that it can be engaged anddisengaged with the minimal of force placed on the press tab 38.

The self locking latch 16 has two flanges 58 and 60 that protrude out ofthe side of the self-locking latch 16. The flanges 58 and 60 aredesigned to provide a stop for the self-locking latch 16. When theself-locking hinge 16 is engaged, the flanges 58 and 60 rest on the toppart of the connecting portion 20. The combination of the flanges 58 and60 resting, or stopping, on the top part of the connecting portion 20and the pressure created by the spring 42 maintain the self-lockinglatch 16 in a secure position and prevents the self-locking latch 16from moving while the engaged invention 10 is in use.

The invention can be made from any strong material, for example metal orplastic, with the preferred embodiment being machined aluminum. Theparts are simple in design and can be made using standard machiningtechniques.

1) A Self Locking Hinge comprising: a first hinge portion, a secondhinge portion and a self locking latch; where each hinge portioncomprises a connecting portion containing lobes designed to provide ameans to pivotally connect the two hinge portions together and a mainbody portion designed to connect the hinge portion to an object orobjects to be hinged together; where said self locking latch is springactuated, pivotally attached to the first hinge portion and containing alobe designed to engage a recess in the second hinge portion; where saidengagement of the self locking latch's lobe into the recess of thesecond hinge portion provides a means to lock the invention in itsengaged position; where said lobes of the hinge portions are off setfrom the center axis of their respective hinge portions therebyproviding a means to allow the hinge portions to pivotally move in an180-degree orientation with respect to each other from a disengagedposition to an engaged position. 2) A Self Locking Hinge as in claim 1where the hinge portions and the self locking latch are made from asuitable material, such as metal or plastic. 3) A Self Locking Hinge asin claim 1 where the invention is used in conjunction with wadingstaffs, ski poles, walking sticks, canes or other poled devices. 4) ASelf Locking Hinge as in claim 1 where the invention is used inconjunction with devices that required a collapsible frame, for example,but not limited to, golf carts, baby carriages and collapsible tents. 5)A Self Locking Hinge as in claim 1 where several inventions are used inconjunction with poled, or other, devices so that the devices can befolded in multiple sections to minimize the folded length.